Ann Taylor (June 30, 1782 - December 20, 1866), later Mrs. Joseph Gilbert, was an English poet and children's author. She is best known as the sister and collaborator of Jane Taylor. June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 184 days remaining. ... 1782 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Jane Taylor (1783−1824) was an English poet. ...

The Taylor sisters were part of an extensive literary family. Born in London, Jane and her family later lived in Lavenham, Suffolk; Colchester, and Ongar. Their father, Isaac Taylor, was an engraver and later a dissenting minister. Their mother, Mrs. (Anne Martin) Taylor (1757-1830) wrote seven works of moral and religious advice, two of them fictionalized. Ann and Jane's brothers also wrote.

The sisters, and their authorship of various works, have often been confused, in part because their early works were published together.

Ann Taylor's son, Josiah Gilbert, wrote in her biography, 'two little poems–"My Mother," and "Twinkle, twinkle, little Star," are perhaps, more frequently quoted than any; the first, a lyric of life, was by Ann, the second, of nature, by Jane; and they illustrate this difference between the sisters.' See The Autobiography and Other Memorials of Mrs Gilbert, Formerly Ann Taylor, by Ann Taylor (1782-1866), edited by Josiah Gilbert. Henry S. King & Co. 65 Cornhill, London, 1874.

Original Poems for Infant Minds by several young persons (i.e. Ann and Jane and others) was first issued in two volumes in 1804 and 1805. Rhymes for the Nursery followed in 1806, and Hymns for Infant Minds in 1808. In Original Poems for Infant Minds (1805) primarily written by Ann and Jane Taylor and Adelaide O'Keeffe, the authors were identified for each poem. In Rhymes for the Nursery (1806) poems were not identified by author. Attributions for the sisters' poems can be found in an exceptional Taylor resource: The Taylors of Ongar: An Analytical Bio-Bibliography by Christina Duff Stewart, Garland Publishing, Inc., New York & London, 1975. Stewart identifies authorship of Rhymes for the Nursery, based on a copy belonging to Canon Isaac Taylor, which was annotated to indicate the respective authorship of Ann and Jane. Canon Isaac was the nephew of Jane and Ann; a son of their brother, Isaac Taylor of Stanford Rivers. Stewart also confirms attributions of Original Poems based on publisher's records.

Ann married the Rev. Joseph Gilbert on December 24, 1813, and left her home in Ongar to make a new home far from her family, in Rotherham. A widower of thirty-three, Gilbert worked as the classical tutor at Rotherham College, and later as a dissenting minister, at Rotherham and then at Nottingham. Kept busy with the duties of wife and later mother, Ann Gilbert still managed to write poems, hymns, essays, and letters. Her interest in public matters, such as atheism, prison reform, and the anti-slavery movement, often spurred her to take up her pen, and the results of those scattered moments found a way into print.

The Rev. Joseph Gilbert died on December 12, 1852. Even in the midst of packing up, finding a new home, and moving, Ann wrote a memoir of her husband. Ann Gilbert (nee Taylor) died on December 20, 1866 and was buried next to her husband in the general cemetery at Nottingham. December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 19 days remaining. ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ...

Sources:

The Autobiography and Other Memorials of Mrs Gilbert, Formerly Ann Taylor, by Ann Taylor (1782-1866), edited by Josiah Gilbert. Henry S. King & Co. 65 Cornhill, London, 1874.

Memoirs, Correspondence and Poetical Remains of Jane Taylor Volume I of The Writings of Jane Taylor, In Five Volumes: Boston: Perkins & Marvin, 1832.